In part 2, we left off with Jonah's disobedience not only affecting him, but everyone else on the ship as well, that's where we're going to pick up in part 3 ...
Verse 7:
And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may
know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So, they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
The men are beside themselves with desperation and decide to
cast lots to see if someone on board has done something to cause this great
storm, and the lot fell on Jonah.
Verse 8:
Then they said to him, “tell us on whose account this evil has come
upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?
The men began firing rapid questions at Jonah as he stood
defenseless before his accusers while the ship rocked, the waves crashed, and
the storm continued all around them.
Since the lot had fallen on him, he was a serious suspect, and the men
were determined to get answers.
Verse 9:
And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew and I fear the Lord, the God of
heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”
Jonah makes a full and complete confession. He is a Hebrew; he fears the Lord and he
acknowledges the sovereignty of God over the sea and dry land.
His statement that he ‘fears the Lord’ seems in direct
contradiction to his actions though, doesn’t it?
Verse 10:
Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this
that you have done!” For the men knew
that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.
The men’s exclamation of horror “what have you done” must
surely have cut through Jonah like a knife.
He was the cause; it was his fault and he had nowhere to turn.
Verse 11:
Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may
quiet down for us?” For the sea grew
more and more tempestuous.
The men are beside themselves not knowing what to do or where
to turn as the storm grows worse, so they asked Jonah for advice concerning
what they should do with him!
Verse 12:
He said to then, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea
will quiet down for you for I know it is because of me that this great tempest
has come upon you.”
Jonah recognizes that this terrible storm is an act of God
against him because of his disobedience and asked the men to do the
unthinkable.
Why did Jonah not pray to God and repent instead of telling
the sailors to ‘hurl him into the sea?’
It seems that God’s prophet is still in full blown rebellion against
what the Almighty wants him to do!
Do the sailors do what Jonah asked? Do they hurl him into the seas? We'll find out in part 4!
Until then,
patsy @ From This Heart Of Mine
(c) 2022 by Patsy Norwood. All Rights Reserved.
I wonder how many of us would have repented! Would I have thought to repent? I just don't know.
ReplyDeleteLana, I like to think I would have, but honestly don't know. The situation was pretty intense!
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